Explore the Family Name Colston
The meaning of Colston
1. Scottish and English: from a Middle English personal name, Colstan, which is probably from Old Norse Kolsteinn, composed of the elements kol ‘charcoal’ + steinn ‘stone’. This name has probably been confused with Coulson. 2. English: habitational name from Colston Basset in Nottinghamshire, or the nearby Carcolston, both of which seem to have originally been named from the Old Norse personal name Kolr + Old English tūn ‘settlement’. The first syllable of Car Colson was originally the defining prefix kirk ‘church’. 3. English: habitational name from Coulston in Wiltshire, which is named with the genitive case of an Old English personal name Cufel (diminutive of Cufa) + Old English tūn ‘enclosure, settlement’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Colston in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname 'Colston' has seen a slight increase in the 2010 census compared to the 2000 census. The rank changed marginally from 7,623 to 7,617, indicating that it remained relatively stable in its popularity among U.S. surnames. The count of individuals bearing this surname increased by approximately 8.48% from 4,022 to 4,363. However, its proportion per 100,000 people decreased slightly by 0.67%, from 1.49 to 1.48, suggesting a relative decrease in its prevalence.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,623 | #7,617 | 0.08% |
| Count | 4,022 | 4,363 | 8.48% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.49 | 1.48 | -0.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Colston
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander with the surname 'Colston' decreased by 21.87%. The category of 'two or more races' saw an increase of 46.95%. There was a small decrease in the percentage of white individuals with this surname, down 1.58%, while the Hispanic population increased by 35.61%. The black population holding this surname saw a minor decrease of 0.90%. Lastly, the American Indian and Alaskan Native group showed a growth of 14.52% in the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 56.29% | 55.4% | -1.58% |
| Black | 39.81% | 39.45% | -0.9% |
| Two or More Races | 1.64% | 2.41% | 46.95% |
| Hispanic | 1.32% | 1.79% | 35.61% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.62% | 0.71% | 14.52% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.32% | 0.25% | -21.87% |